Dr. Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

As co-author of a new book titled “Cereal Killers” slated for release in the fall of 2009, the study of the impact of gluten continues to be a driving passion in my life.

I am fascinated by the way that gluten induces illness and impedes learning while it alters mood, behavior, and a host of other facets of human existence. Sure, gluten’s impact on health is an important issue, but that is only the most obvious area of impact. Mood disturbances, learning disabilities, and the loss of quality of life due to psychiatric and neurological illness are even more tragic than the plethora of physical ailments that are caused or worsened by gluten.Â The further I go down this rabbit hole, the more I realize that grains are a good food for ruminants - not people. I teach at the Royal Roads University, Continuing Studies.

Celiac.com 07/10/2006 - Increased consumption of gluten, according
to Dr. Michael Marsh, raises the risk of celiac disease symptoms1.
Although these symptoms may not indicate celiac disease, they reflect
some biological realities. Grain-based foods simply do not offer the
nutrients necessary to human health and they damage the human body.
USDA and Canada Food Guides notwithstanding, if people eat grain-laden
diets, they may develop symptoms of celiac disease (but in most cases,
without the diagnostic intestinal lesion). The connection between eating
disorders and celiac disease is well known and well documented2,3,4,5.
Thus, the dynamics at work in celiac disease may offer insight into
the broader realm of obesity, especially among those who are eating
the recommended, daily quantities of grain-derived foods, while attempting
to keep their weight down by eating low-fat foods.

The primary, defining characteristic of celiac disease
is gluten induced damage to the villi in the intestinal lining. Since
malabsorption of vitamins and minerals are well known in the context of
celiac disease, it should not be surprising that some celiac patients
also demonstrate pica (Pica is an ailment characterized by eating dirt,
paint, wood, and other non-food substances). Other celiac patients eat
excessive quantities of food, coupled with a concurrent failure to gain
weight. Yet another, perhaps larger, group of celiac patients refuse to
eat (One may wonder if the latter find that eating makes them feel sick
so they avoid it).

Perhaps the most neglected group is that large portion
of untreated celiac patients who are obese. Dr. Dickey found that obesity
is more common than being underweight among those with untreated celiac
disease6. When I ran a Medline search under the terms "obesity"
and "celiac disease" 75 citations appeared. A repeated theme
in the abstracts and titles was that celiac disease is usually overlooked
among obese patients. While obesity in celiac disease may be common, diagnosis
appears to be uncommon. Given the facts, I certainly believe that some
of the North American epidemic of obesity can be explained by undiagnosed
celiac disease. However, that is only a small part of the obesity puzzle,
and I suspect that celiac disease may offer a pattern for understanding
much of the obesity that is sweeping this continent.

One example, a woman diagnosed by Dr. Joe Murray when
he was at the University of Iowa, weighed 388 pounds at diagnosis7.
Dr. Murray explained her situation as an over-compensation for her intestinal
malabsorption. I want to suggest a two faceted, alternative explanation
which may extend to a large and growing segment of the overweight and
obese among the general population. As mentioned earlier, anyone consuming
enough gluten will demonstrate some symptoms of celiac disease. If large
scale gluten consumption damages the intestinal villi—but to a lesser
degree than is usually required to diagnose celiac disease—fat absorption
will be compromised. Deficiencies in essential fatty acids are a likely
consequence.

The natural response to such deficiencies is to crave
food despite having absorbed sufficient calories. Even when caloric intake
is huge, and excess calories must be stored as body fat, the need to eat
continues to be driven by the bodys craving for essential fats.
Due to gluten-induced interference with fat absorption, consumption of
escalating quantities of food may be necessary for adequate essential
fatty acid absorption. To further compound the problem, pancreatic glucagon
production will be reduced, compromising the ability of the individual
to burn these stored fats, while the cells continue to demand essential
fats.

Poor medical advice also contributes to the problem.
The mantra of reduced fat continues to echo in the offices of health professionals
despite a growing body of converse research findings. In February of this
year, the results of a powerful, eight year study of almost 49,000 women
showed little difference between the health of women consuming low fat
diets when compared to those consuming normal diets8. Alarmingly,
this low fat diet seems to have resulted in weight gain, a well recognized
risk factor for a variety of diseases.

For some of us, this result was predictable. The likely
result of a low-fat diet is an increased intake of carbohydrates while
food cravings are fuelled by a deficiency of essential fatty acids. If
my sense of the underlying problem (caloric excess combined with essential
fatty acid deficiency due to fat malabsorption at the microvilli) is accurate,
then a low fat diet is exactly the wrong prescription. Many obese persons
are condemned, by such poor medical advice, to a life of ever deepening
depression, autoimmune diseases, and increasing obesity.

At the end of the day, when these folks drop dead from
heart attacks, strokes, or some similar disaster, the self-righteous bystanders
will just know that the problem was a lack of willpower.

I watched my mom steadily gain weight for 35 years. I
watched her exercise more will power beyond the capacity of most folks.
Still, she could not resist her compulsive eating. I have seen her take
something from the freezer and chew on it while agreeing that she had
just eaten a very large meal and should feel full.

In December of 1994 I was diagnosed with celiac disease.
According to the published experts in this area, my mom should also have
been invited for testing. Yet, when asked for testing, her doctor refused
her. Through persistence, and a pervasive faith in her son, mom finally
(after months of negotiation) swayed her doctor to do the anti-gliadinantibody blood test. Despite the fact that she had been on a reduced gluten
diet for the past year, her antibody levels were elevated.

She never sought a biopsy diagnosis, and the EMA and
tTG were not available here in Canada at that time. However, she has been
gluten-free for the past seven years or so. She dropped a considerable
amount of weight.

Her weakness was never will power. She was battling an
instinct so basic that few of us could have resisted. That, I think, is
the story behind much of North American obesity. The widespread, excessive
consumption of gluten at every meal, in addition to the low-fat religion
that has been promulgated throughout the land, is resulting in intestinal
damage and a widespread deficiency in essential fats is among North Americans.

Ron Hoggan is an author, teacher and diagnosed celiac who lives in
Canada. His book "Dangerous Grains" can be ordered at www.celiac.com.
Rons Web page is: www.DangerousGrains.com

25 Responses:

I have been overweight since I was a teenager. Just got diagnosed with ceilac disease last year in January . I was in a coma for 4 days and in hospital almost a month and in a rehab hospital for almost a month and was not able to walk or talk. I had lost weight to 176 lbs going in to hospital, and now I have gained up to 330lbs. and I am very depressed. I can't understand why some people lose weight on a gluten free diet while it caused me to gain so much weight. So not all people are alike.

I found this article informative and well-written. As an individual with gluten sensitivity and a constellation of attendant problems (morbid obesity, hypoglycemia, cognitive impairment, ADD, chronic, treatment-resistant depression, excema and hives, just to name a few) I found conventional 'dieting' plans (such as Weight Watchers) an easy way to actually gain weight, instead of losing it. It wasn't until I removed from my diet all wheat and 'white stuff'-- white flour, sugar, white rice, and the like-- that I began to lose weight. During the first four months on a restricted food plan I lost 40 pounds. I also experienced extreme withdrawal-- quitting cigarettes was a walk in the park compared to this. Headaches. Cravings. Flu-like symptoms. And mood swings? I felt like I'd had all my skin ripped off and was walking around with all my nerve endings exposed. I was irritable, angry, or sad for no reason. Holding a simple conversation was an ordeal. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, When withdrawal eventually ended, the weight loss didn't. I lost 103 pounds in 18 months, and for almost two years until, I spectacularly 'fell off the wagon' (it involved half a sheet cake-- don't ask), kept it off. It took almost three years, and 100 pounds regained, to reestablish a steady footing on the food plan (worked out with a nutritionist) but the weight gain (100 pounds) stopped and I have started to lose (20 so far) again. But the gluten-free diet is key to having no food cravings to distract me, and keeping my brain clear. Mr. Hoggan has addressed an under served audience with this article.

I have been diagnosed with hypoglycemia, morbid obesity, anxiety disorder, severe eczema and rosacia. I feel at times like I have ADD and lack of concentration. I always feel tired and suffered on and off from diarrhea and abdominal pains. Your story is eerily mirroring my experiences so I am going to get checked. Thank so much for the honesty.

This article has hit home with me as well. I have watched the same symptoms in my father. I have celiac and he refuses to get tested. I hope this may have an influence on him as well. Thank you for writing informative articles.

I found this very informative! Thank you so much! I haven't been diagnosed with celiac, but I visited my mom's naturopathic doctor and she recommended switching to a gluten-free lifestyle. I've been digging around trying to find the connection to obesity (which I am). This article has been very eye-opening and hopefully in a few months I'll be able to report back with my success story. Thanks again for posting this!

Your view of this malady is refreshing, and I was delighted to find something which was not just a repetition of Mayo data. Four generations of my family have or had Celiac, some of them died from it. Nobody knew what was wrong. It's such a relief just to be able to move around again, and think clearly. Keep up your good research, and I'll keep up mine. I think the grains were the god's answer of how to control us after the Tower of Babel story.

I think this is a very logical explanation for obesity. However, I am anorexic and I just found out I have celiac disease. Somehow the two are related but there is the very strong psychological portion of the eating disorder that is present. I don't think celiac disease causes anorexia nervosa. Interestingly though, I have both anorexia nervosa and celiac in my family background. I have been looking for more research on this and I can't find a lot. It is mostly about celiacs who become anorexic. There must be some component to the anorexia though, or else everyone who was celiac would becaome anorexic. I would be interested to find out any more information.

You may have been reacting to the effects of celiac at a very young age and not have even been aware of it. I have been watching my daughter waste away and not grow like the rest of her peers. For two years, I pressed her Doctors, I knew she had this disease. Finally at age 8 and after seeing two Pediatric GI's she was diagnosed. Her eating behaviors could only be described as anorexic and mealtime was always a battle. She never had the typical stomach issues that are classic celiac symptoms. Her "normal" reaction to eating food was a stomach floating sensation. She associated this feeling with food and stopped eating. I had know idea she was experiencing a physical reaction to food because at her age it had always been this way and she never thought to share it with me. I definitely see how this disease has impacted her eating habits. For anyone who wants to dismiss the impact of celiac disease and following a gluten free diet, my now nine year old daughter has grown four inches in one year. Which is startling when you consider she hadn't grown an inch for the two years prior to her diagnosis. I was just tested myself and my blood work just came back positive. I didn't think I could have this disease because I am about 40 pounds overweight. Go figure.

I am now responding to response number 7. Celiac disease gives a person tremendous amounts of gas. My aunt died as an anorexic, partly because she could no longer bear being a lady, and being so flatulent as well. To her, it was disgusting. It destroyed her joy in living.

I have battled compulsive cravings my whole life. I have been gluten-free for a short while now and no longer have stomach upset or cravings, and my innards feel different, 'lighter' or something. This may sound strange but I feel FREE. You couldn't pay me to eat a bagel or pizza or crusty french bread, I feel much too good. I didn't even realize just how terrible I felt when I was eating gluten. My overweight daughter exhibits severe cravings, and we are weaning her off of gluten now. You are ON to something here, for a large portion of us I suspect. Keep up the good work, and THANK YOU!

I have eaten only gluten-free products for the past week. The food cravings, bloating, and tiredness are GONE! Though I am still about 20 pounds overweight, I have dropped three pounds this past week without even trying -- without dieting. My energy level is also way up. Thank you for the information.

A very good article. I notice that when I eat gluten or other carbohydrates, I get addictive cravings. So I do think that macro nutrients along with the gluten are involved. I Couldn't agree with you more on the essential fatty acids.

I must agree with Nicqizi, I to have been packing on the weight and it just does not end. I work out and eat healthy. I've never had a weight problem before. I wish that someone out their can tell me why the weight keeps coming and when will it stop. I feel more depressed now than when I was sick and found out that I was celiac.

Nicqizi, based on conversation with my doctor and nutritionist, along with personal research, eating a "fairly gluten-free" diet is simply not helpful. Your gut has to heal, all those villi need to grow back. Having something even once a month is not okay for someone who should be on a gluten-free diet. While I am no expert on how this relates to weight gain, I know that your gut cannot heal and the rest of your body will not function properly until you cut out gluten completely. Personally, I've also had to cut out dairy. Though I said I could never stop eating cheese, my body is grateful that I have!

THANK YOU so much for this article. I discovered my gluten intolerance a few years ago when I became a vegetarian in an attempt to feel better. I got SO sick eating 1,200 calories a day- a strict diet of organic home made breads, pastas and fresh fruits and veggies and fresh juices. I finally researched my symptoms (distended stomach, weakness, clouded thinking, bouts of depression and anxiety, inability to loose weight, muscle tension/spasms) and I heard about celiac for the first time.

I cut gluten out completely and within days the clouds started to clear for me. Since then, I've also had to cut out most other grains, and now dairy as well. I still have relapses, but I don't beat myself up as much since I now finally understand the addictive component. *** I have found a HUGE hindrance on this journey back to health has been hidden MSG which many gluten free and 'health' food is full of (it can slip past even the most ardent label readers) For those of you who have commented that you are still continuing to gain weight even on a strict gluten free diet- check the labels- you may be eating food that, while labeled gluten free- is spiked with 'flavor enhancing' chemicals which are incredibly addictive and will leave you feeling just as compulsive, out of control and sick. Google "other names for MSG" and see if you don't find a connection. And good luck!

Exactly. I am gluten sensitive - I didn't know this for years, and throughout two pregnancies went through the horrible experience of feeling both sick and hungry all the time. Put on lots of baby weight as my body fought to absorb the necessary nutrients. There seem to be few studies of pregnancy while undiagnosed celiac.

I am a woman in her twenties who suffer from anxiety and OCD.A couple of years back I started bingeing from time to time, and it became increasingly frequent. A few months ago I actually started purging because I was so uncomfortable after stuffing myself with bread, cereal and crackers for the most part.Looking back last summer, there was a period of 15 days where I only ate meat and veggies. My mood was significantly better and my compulsions decreased by a lot.I am going to try very hard to go 2 weeks without gluten and see where it takes me. Fingers Crossed!!Thank you for the wonderful article.

I've been tirelessly researching this disease for almost two years. All of the skin issues that come with it, allergy to gluten and common allergy to dairy are markers for something. I once read that allergies come from the liver. Maybe we should all try a liver cleanse and see if we feel better?

At age 50 I finally discovered that what was making me sick is gluten, dairy and sugar. I used to stalk my GP with a variety of symptoms, ranging from dizziness, bloating, vision problems, constipation, severe joint pain (without swelling), fatigue, food allergies, shortness of breath, asthma and the list goes on ... I am certain there was a big "H" on my medical chart for hypochondriac. Since going on a gluten free lifestyle I have dropped 25 kg without trying. I am no longer hungry after meals and the cravings have gone. I feel 30 years younger. I have lots of energy. Just sorry I didn't realize it sooner and that neither the medical profession did.

I am in the process of looking for this very answer. I have celiac, fibromyalgia and Hashimoto's. I actually had a gastrointestinal doctor tell me last year that he didn't believe I had celiac because "celiacs are usually thin" (I'm 5'4" and weigh about 200lbs). The last time I was able to lose a significant amount of weight was in my late 20s when I eliminated refined carbs and sugars from my diet. No white stuff, cereal or breads and even though I didn't know it at the time, most of that was the gluten I consumed. I am now diagnosed with malnutrition and have been living very ill for the past several months. This article gives me hope that if I eliminate these things I can lose weight again and begin to feel more normal. I will check back and let you know how I'm doing soon.